Noxeema Jackson (Wesley Snipes) and Vida Boheme Patrick Swayze) enter a "drag queen of the year" contest in NYC. They win a trip to Hollywood to take part in a bigger national drag queen contest. Before they depart, Vida persuades Noxeema to take along the inexperienced "drag princess" Chi-Chi Rodriguez (Leguizamo). They trade in their airplane tickets to buy a stylish 1967 Cadillac convertible and the three of them drive to LA. While on the road they are pulled over by homophobic and racist Sheriff Dollard (Chris Penn), who tries to rape Vida. He discovers Vida is not female, and in the confrontation, Dollard is knocked unconscious. Their car breaks down and Bobby Ray (Jason London) gives them a ride, and they take refuge in a bed & breakfast owned by Carol Ann (Stockard Channing) and her abusive car repairman husband, Virgil (Arliss Howard).
The trio remain trapped in the town of Snydersville for the weekend as they wait for the replacement part for their car to arrive. While there, they are confronted by the town's small-mindedness, although none of it centers around their gender as everyone believes them to be female. Chi-Chi is nearly gang raped by a group of roughnecks, but is saved by Bobby Ray. Meanwhile, Sheriff Dollard is ridiculed by his colleagues, who believe he was beaten up by a woman. He goes in search of the drag queens with a list of places to look entitled "Places for Homos", which reads: (1) flower shops, (2) ballet schools, (3) flight attendants' lounges, (4) restaurants for brunch, and (5) antique shops. The three queens overhear Virgil giving Carol Ann a beating, so Vida beats up Virgil and throws him out of the house. The next day Virgil runs into Sherrif Dollard and they realize the newcomers are the same people Dollard has been searching for. They head back to Snydersville and Dollard insists the townspeople turn over the drag queens.
The townspeople, who now realize the true gender of their new friends, begin to protect them. One by one they step up and confront Dollard, each one claiming to be a drag queen. Dollard is humiliated and flees. The annual "Strawberry Social" event commences with everybody dressed in vibrant red outfits for the party. Shortly after, Carol Ann repairs their car and the ladies are finally able to leave Snydersville, though by now they are slightly saddened to leave behind their new friends. They eventually make it to LA where Chi-Chi, after having received many tips from Vida and Noxeema during their ordeal, wins the title of Drag Queen of the Year. The crown is presented by Julie Newmar.
The film's complete title refers to an autographed photo of Julie Newmar that the trio carries with them on their journey. Also known as, "To Wong Fu With Love from Julie Newmar", it's obviously similar to "The Adventures of Priscilla". It was written by Douglas Carter Beane and directed by Beeban Kidron.
